Polish rod clamp



Oct. 28, 1941. STANLEY 2,260,544

POLISH ROD CLAMP Filed Oct. 20, 1939,

IYNVENTOR FRED D. STANLEY Patented Oct. 28, 1941 PATENT oF-FlcE POLISH ROD CLAMP Fred D. Stanley, Coffeyville, Kans., assignor to The Oil Country Specialties Manufacturing Company, Coffeyville, Kans., a corporation of Kansas 1 Application October 20, 1939', Serial No. 300,303

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a polish rod clamp for use in connection with the polish rod of oil well pumping units.

In pumping mechanism for oil wells, the line of sucker rods' terminates at its upper end in a length of rod, having a rather high degree of polish, which oscillates backand forth through the stufling box at the top of the well, and which iscalledthe polish rod. In order to impart the reciprocatory motion to the string of sucker rods, the polish rod is connected through a suitable clamp and connecting linkage to the beam of the pumping mechanism.

Such a polish rod clamp must effectively engage the rod, and thereby provide a firm abutment against, which the pulling force of the pumping mechanism may be applied and transmitted to the sucker rods.

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is to provide a polish rod clamp which will positively engage a polish rod, and yet be capable of ready release and removal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a polish rod clamp which is simple to manufacture and install, but in which the various parts are connected together so that they will not be-' come displaced when the clamp is not engaged.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a front View of a polish rod provided with a clamp constructed in accordance with the present invention, together with the lift mechanism therefor.

constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, in open position.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the polish rod clamp shown in Figure 2, but in closedposition.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the polish rod clamp shown in Figure 1.

The present invention contemplates a polish rod clamp in which the polish rod is circumferentially engaged by the clamp substantially throughout its circumference. A "particular feature of the invention resides in the provision of gripping members in sets of three, each provided with polish rod engaging notches formed on substantially the same radius as that of the polish rod, the respective notches embracing nearly one hundred eighty degrees of the polish rod circumference. The gripping members are hingedly mounted with respect to each other, so 55 ber 4.

that the notches overlap when the clamp "is closed. v r

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, a pair'of clamp members is. arranged sothat'the individual members oppose each other, Both members are mounted upon a thirdmember, and

each of the three is provided with the polish rod engaging notch above referred to. Any suitable means maybe provided for'forcingthe pair of opposed members togetheriand holding them' in position so that they Will grip the. polish rod. not

only'against each other, but against the'.thlrd member. j

Referring now particularly to the drawing for an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the clamp is applied to a polish rod I so as to provide an abutment against which a lifting force may be applied. j In accordance with the usual practice, the lifting force is applied through a suitable clamp supporting plate 2, which is con- 5 5, formed on the same radius as that oilpolish,

rod l. The notch 5 has a circumferential extent of nearly one hundred eighty 'degreesin the embodiment shown in the drawing, the extent there-. of being approximately one hundred flfty degrees.

Hingedly mounted upon supporting member 4, on

opposite sides of notch 5, is apair of clamping J members 6 and I. Each of clamping membersfi and 'l 'is likewise provided with a polish rodgengaging notch 8 and 9, formed on the same radius as that 0f.polish rod 1, having an extent of nearly one hundred eighty degrees. Clamping member 6' is connected to supporting member 4 through a. hinge pin I0, and correspondingly clamping member l is "connected to the opposite end of sup;

porting member! through the hinge pin. II. N

Anotherpair of clamping members 16 and I1 is similarly mounted upon the lower side of sup porting member 4. Clamping members 16 and 1 able means for holding the clamping members together may be provided. In the embodiment illustrated, a bolt l2 extends between the pair of clamping-members 6-1, and the pair of clamping members Iii-ll parallel to supporting mem- In order to accommodate the head of bolt is thereby provided.

l2, clamping members 1 and I! may be provided with shoulders l3'as clearly shown 'in Figure 1, so that the head of clamping bolt I2 is recessed so as to be substantially flush with the edge surfaces of the clamping members l and I1.

While in the accompanying drawing the polish 7 rod clamp'of the present. invention is shown as consisting offour supporting members, 4, I4, 24, and 34, each of which is identical with member 4 hereinbefore described in detail; and consisting of five pairs of clamping members 6-1, l6-l1, 26-41, 33--3l, and 464'l, it will, .be

understood that the clamp may be enlarged by the addition ,of additional sets of supporting. and

clamping members; or maybe reduced in size by eliminating some of the same, down to a mini' mum of two pairs of clamping members and one supporting member. Y i

In order to facilitate the manufacture of the clamping device of the present invention, the clamping members 6, 1, 26, 21, 4,6 and 41, may be identically formed; as it will be observed that clamp; ing'member 6 isidentical with clamping member I, but is in inverted position, so that'the polish rodengaging notches face eachother, and so that shoulders l3 face away from each other diagonal-- 1y. Likewise membersJG, I1, 36 and 31 are identical. The arrangement of parts so that the clamping member 31. This provides an easy grip V 7 of the particular mechanism upon which it is being-employed. 'Infinite number of pairs of clamping members may be added to the device shown in the drawing, with supporting members corresponding to member 4 intervening each pair; and likewise the number of pairs of clamping members may be decreased to a minimum of two pairs,

a with one supporting member 4 intervening, In

clamping members of each pair are identical is a great convenience'in manufacturing, as well as in maintenance, bec'auseit' is not necessary to pro vide the user witha largesupply of replacement parts, in view of the fact that the clamping members of each pair, regardless of how many there may be or whether they are right-hand or left hand members, are identical, and the alternate pairs are. alsoidenticalf i ,In a polish rod clamphaving more than two sets of clamping members such as 6-1, IB--|1,

it is desirable to provide more than one clampingv means such as bolt [2, Accordingly, in the,em-,

bodiment illustrated, there is provided four clamping bolts, 12, 22, 32 and 42, which it will be observed extend in alternately opposite direction's. With all of the clamping members identically formed, the position of shoulders l3 on eachalternate pair of clamping memberswill be opposed; and consequently alternate positioningv of the clampingbolts is required. This, however, is an added convenience, because greater space for manipulating the nuts'on'the clamping bolts In order to facilitate manipulation of the de-i vice, all of'the' clamping members on one side of the polish rodmay be pinned together, .asffor, 1 1 examplethrough-th'e medium of a pin l8 extend-' ing through suitably .aligned holes in the respec-1 tive clamping members 6, 16,126, 36,. and 46-.

together clampingmembers 1,11, 21, .ifLanclll'l.

Pins l8 and Illperform the'additional function, however, of, locating bolts l2, 22, 32 and 42in position betweenv the respective pairs of clamping" members.

outwardly from supporting member 4, while pin Pin'l8 positions the clamping bolts 1 Likewise, a pinv [9 extends through and connects any event, in order to assure adequate clamping,

the same number of clamping bolts I2 should be employed as there are supporting members 4.

'While it is realized thatmany modifications and variations of the device will present them-L selves to those skilled in the art, it is tobe distinctly understood that such modifications and variations, and the use of such individualfeatures and combinations of features as do not depart from the spirit of this invention are, although not specifically described herein, contemplated by and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: i

1. A polish rod clamp comprising a member having a notched part shaped to embrace and en-j gage a" polishrod, a plurality of other members hinged at the ends of said first member but disaligned therefrom, and each having notched parts i shaped to embrace and engage a polish rod, and means for drawing said members together to clamp the polish rod in said notched parts of all said members. H

2. A polish rod clamp comprising a member, having an arcuate notch arranged to engage a; polish rod, a plurality of other members pivoted,

to said member and each having arcuate notches to engage the polish rod,and means for clamping said members together with the polish rod engaging portions of the arcuate notches overlapping. 3. A polish rod clamp comprising aseries of members having arcuate notches, members piv-'- oted to each end of the firstmentioned members and interposing the same, and means-"for clamping said last mentioned members together to force a polish rod into engagement with said arcuate notches.

4.,A polish rod clamp comprising a, member having a part arranged toengage a polish rod a pair of clamping members hinged on ,topof l9, being on the outside of bolt l2, prevents'their i becoming detached from the clamp except when the nut is entirely removed therefrom;

In order to further facilitate the application of the polish rod clamp, suitable handlesmay be provided on any one or more of the clamping For example, handle 20 may beg connected between clamping member 6 and clamping members.

member 36; and a corresponding handle i l may be connected, between v clamping member 1 and said first mentioned member, another. pair of clamping members hinged on the bottom of said first mentioned member, said clamping members each having parts to engage the polish rod at, points axially and circumferentially displaced. from the point'of engagement by'said first men .I tioned' member, and means for drawing said clamping members together.

5. A polish rod-clamp comprising a member having a part arranged to engage a polish rod, a

pair of clamping members hinged on top of said first mentioned member, another pair of clamping members hinged on thebottom of' said first mentioned member, said clampingmembers each L having parts to engage the polish rod at points axially and circumferentially displaced from the point of engagement by said first mentioned member, and means for concurrently drawing both pairs of said clamping members together.

6. A polish rod clamp comprising a member having a part arranged to engage a polish rod, a pair of clamping members hinged on top of said first mentioned member, another pair of clamping members hinged on the bottom of said first mentioned member, said clamping members each having parts to engage the polish rod at points axially and circumferentially displaced from the point of engagement by said first mentioned member, and a bolt extending parallel to said first mentioned member between the respective pairs of clamping members for drawing the latter together.

7. A polish rod clamp comprising a member having a part arranged to engage a polish rod, a pair of clamping members hinged on top of said first mentioned member, another pair of clamping members hinged on the bottom of said first mentioned member, said clamping members each having parts to engage the polish rod at points axially and circumferentially displaced fromthe point of engagement by said first mentioned member, a bolt extending parallel to said first mentioned member between the respective pairs of clamping members for drawing the latter together, and a loose connection between said bolt and one of said clamping members.

8. A polish rod clamp comprising, a pair of clamping members having opposed polish rod gripping notches, a supporting member beneath said pair of clamping members, another pair of gripping members disposed beneath said supporting member, a pair of hinge pins each connecting one of each pair of clamping members to the ends of said supporting member, and means for drawing said clamping members together.

9. A polish rod clamp comprising, a pair of clamping members having opposed polish rod gripping notches, a supporting member beneath said pair of clamping members, another pair of gripping members disposed beneath said supporting member, a pair of hinge pins each connecting one of each pair of clamping members to the ends of said supporting member, a pin extending through the clamping members connected with one hinge pin for maintaining the same in alignment, and means for drawing said clamping members together.

10. A polish rod clamp comprising, a pair of clamping members having opposed polish rod gripping notches, a supporting member beneath said pair of clamping members, said supporting member having a central notch for engaging a polish rod, another pair of clamping members beneath the supporting member, one clamping member of each pair being hinged at one side of the notch in the supporting member and the other on the opposite side thereof, the notches in the clamping members overlapping the notch in the supporting member, and means for drawing said clamping members together.

11. A polish rod clamp comprising a supporting member having an arcuate notch of nearly on substantially the same radius as the polish rod, a pair of clamping members each having an arcuate notch of nearly 180 on the same radius as the polish rod, means for hingedly mounting said clamping members on said supporting member so that the arcs of the respective notches may be circumferentially aligned, and means for drawing said clamping members together.

12. A polish rod clamp comprising, a pair of clamping members having opposed polish rod gripping notches, a supporting member beneath said pair of clamping members, another pair of gripping members disposed beneath said supporting member, a pair of hinge pins each connecting one of each pair of clamping members to the ends of said supporting member, a pin extending through the clamping members connected with one hinge pin for maintaining the same in alignment, handles extending outwardly from oppositely disposed said clamping members, and means for drawing said clamping members together.

13. A polish rod clamp comprising, a supporting member, and a plurality of identical clamping members hinged to said supporting member in spaced relation, each of said clamping members having a polish rod engaging notch, said individual clamping members being mounted so that the notch thereof opposes the notch in the companion clamping member of the identical pair.

14. A polish rod clamp comprising a supporting member, and a plurality of identical clamping members hinged to said supporting member in spaced relation, each of said clamping members having a polish rod engaging notch and a recessed shoulder along an edge thereof opposite said notch, said individual clamping members being mounted so that the notch thereof opposes the notch in the companion clamping member of the identical pair.

15. A polish rod clamp comprising, a pair of clamping members having opposed polish rod gripping notches, a supporting member beneath said pair of clamping members, another pair of gripping members disposed beneath said supporting member, a pair of axially extending hinge pins each connecting one of each pair of clamping members to the ends of said supporting member, and a clamping bolt extending crosswise at the ends of said clamping members opposite said hinge pins for drawing together the clamping members of the pairs above and below the clamping bolt.

FRED D. STANLEY. 

